Karl mum on impending sanctions for Spurs

OAKLAND, Calif. -- George Karl questioned the questioner with a question of his own.

"The only question I would ask is," the Nuggets coach said Thursday, "is the commissioner in the right?"

Here's the backstory -- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to send home and rest four key players, instead of having them play a fourth game in five nights Thursday.

But because the game was in Miami -- and on TNT in primetime -- NBA commissioner David Stern released a statement, saying: "I apologize to all NBA fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming."

At first, Karl said, "I don't think I'm touching this one." But then the prideful coach -- and unofficial president of the NBA coaches fraternity -- spoke up for his peers by saying, "If you're going to ask if 'Pop' is in the right, you've got to ask if the commissioner is in the right. And I'm not answering either one. To me, how you coach the team should be on the organization and the coach."

High praise from Karl

It's funny now to think that some folks thought that Evan Fournier should stay in France this season. No, the rookie isn't in Denver's rotation yet, but Karl has not been afraid to play him in spurts.

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"I want you to know that Evan Fournier is going to be an NBA player," Karl said Thursday. "He's going to play for 10 years in the league, I think. I haven't figured out how to play him yet, but he will play some minutes this year. But with the schedule being as difficult as it is right now, I'm going to be more conservative and cautious. But I love him. For a 20-year-old kid, I don't know who coached him (in France), but someone did a heck of a job."

Karl surprised some Monday at Utah by opting to play Fournier instead of second-year guy Jordan Hamilton. Fournier hit a big 3-pointer and grabbed two rebounds in six minutes, though he made a pair of turnovers.

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